Budget BBQ Smoker

[TechMinerUK]

Since we have had a spurt of good weather recently I have been reminded how much I like BBQs. Last year I was meaning to buy a smoker but I never got round to it.

However this year I am determined to get one for summer so I ask the experts of La Cuisine, what is the best budget BBQ smoker or something that will work as a smoker such as a kettle BBQ. Unfortunately my budget is very limited (Under £50 ) but I'm determined to find something to have a go at smoking meat with

 

[TechMinerUK]

Two dirt cheap BBQs join together with a length of suitable tube, fire in one food in the other.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205-LITRE...161973?hash=item2813293eb5:g:~9IAAOSwGotWpi6b
One of those and a bit of DIY - if I get time I'll be doing one. There are guides around as well to help you out!

There were a couple of DIY smokers built on Jamie & Jimmy's Friday night feast.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/jamie-and-jimmys-friday-night-feast

Well, if I have enough time it's good to know there are some interesting DIY guides to have a look at however I was hoping for more of a pre-built soloution as time is a scarce luxury for me at the moment

One of the B&Q drum BBQs (one with a lid) or one of the slightly less cheap B&Q kettle BBQs would be fine as long as it's as big as possible and again, with a lid.

Are there any particular brands that would be recommended or should I look for the biggest kettle BBQ I can find?

I use a smoke Vault, was pretty damn cheap and works well. Wont last forever but will give a few good years and then i will know more about smoking and what I want. I might then shell out for an electric pellet smoker

Do you have a link to one like you purchased or any particular brands that stand out as good

 

[TechMinerUK]

Sorry to bring up this old topic but I never did decide on a smoker, I was wondering if this one would be decent (Not fantastic but decent) or if there are any other cheap ready to go soloutions?

 

[TechMinerUK]

Nope, those ones tend to suck.
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/barrel-charcoal-bbq-35-tesco-instore-2429407
That looks like a good deal for a budget BBQ. It'll probably only last one year but..who cares

Thanks, hopefully the local Tesco store will have one in stock
Also just checking, how would I go about smoking the meat in this (E.g. Amount of pelets etc)

 

[TechMinerUK]

Kettle BBQ and look at python method on youtube on how to fuel it for 10 or so hours with minimal effort.

Would any kettle BBQ be fine or does it need to be a specific size or quality etc?

 

[TechMinerUK]

Any kettle BBQ with a lid and the bigger the better.

So even a cheap one from Tesco would work?

This is the one, I paid $200 for it delivered from walmart. I picked it out because it was highly recommended as a budget smoker. It is also certified to connect to the gas mains so you don't need to exchange bottles (although I will probably end up paying more for a gas technician to come around an install an external gas valve.
http://www.campchef.com/smoke-vault-24.html
Hopefully it is sold somewhere in the UK

That does look pretty impressive however it's way out of my price range

 

[TechMinerUK]

Yup. Obviously more expensive ones are often better and easier to use but you can get by with quite a cheap BBQ quite easily.

That's good as I have a cheapy kettle BBQ in the garage

 

[TechMinerUK]

Absolutely agreed with the air vents comments above.

Ah, then I still may need to buy a new BBQ (Could probably use a new kettle BBQ though )

Lol. Er...no idea how I wrote that
My brain has been utterly fried since lunchtime for some reason :/

Well at least I'm not the only one

 

[TechMinerUK]

You can always drill more holes in the BBQ
In the past I've managed to get by with a really rubbish BBQ where I simply left the lid slightly askew and put some tinfoil around some of the gaps. It still made delicious pulled pork.

True but now that I think about it I'm not sure this BBQ will be big enough though

 

[TechMinerUK]

In that case just go crazy with your money and buy a ProQ Elite Excel

Don't suppose you fancy going halvsies on the bill

 

[TechMinerUK]

Those loins look great, definitely shows us the finished product
It's a shame that there doesn't appear to be any consistency with the smokers online though as if I knew I could get one that works as well as yours I'd buy it right now. Also I too am wondering about the ASDA BBQ smoker as my local shop has one at the same price as the Tesco barrel BBQ